The Wildcats head to Columbia this weekend for a pivotal SEC East clash with the South Carolina Gamecocks. For Mark Stoops’ team, it’s a chance to flip momentum. For Shane Beamer, it’s an opportunity to extend dominance over a rival. Here’s your complete game preview.
Series history
- All-Time: South Carolina leads 21-14-1
- Last 5: Gamecocks lead 3-2
- In Columbia: Dead even over the last six, 3-3
- South Carolina has won the last three meetings — Kentucky’s longest skid in the series since 2010–12.
Recent form
- Kentucky: Coming off a bye after beating Eastern Michigan. Stoops is just 6-10 after bye weeks in his career.
- South Carolina: Reeling from back-to-back losses to Vanderbilt and Missouri.
Matchup keys
Quarterback play: Kentucky needs efficiency. Turnovers have doomed them in Columbia before. SC’s secondary has been vulnerable but opportunistic.
Trenches battle: UK’s offensive line must handle SC’s pressure packages. Conversely, can Kentucky’s front slow down the run and let the secondary focus on the pass?
Explosive plays: South Carolina thrives on chunk yardage. Kentucky must limit deep shots.
Players to watch
Kentucky: Seth McGowan. The running back scored 3 TDs 2 weeks ago against Eastern Michigan and will need to come up big to keep LaNorris Sellers off the field.
South Carolina: Vicari Swain. It is not often the return man that is an x-factor but here he absolutely is. With 3 TDs in 4 games, you can't kick to this man.
Weather & conditions
Forecast calls for 77° at kickoff with 50% chance of rain. Field conditions could be sloppy, but thunderstorms are not expected. This could favor the more physical rushing team. And that is a good thing for the Cats.
Odds & betting outlook
Over at FanDuel, the spread is South Carolina -6.5 with the O/U set at 46.5 Kentucky is 4-1 against the spread in its last five road games, but SC has covered three straight at home in this rivalry.
How to watch and the annoucers announced
- TV: SEC Network (7:45 EST)
- Streaming: Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, Sling (Orange), ESPN+
- Announcers: Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic
How to listen along on the radio
- Online: Stream live at UKAthletics.com or on iHeartRadio via WLAP 630.
- Local FM/AM Stations:
- Lexington: 98.1 FM / 630 WLAP
- Louisville: 840 AM WHAS
- London: 103.9 FM WWEL
- Hazard/Pikeville: 101.1 WSGS
- Madisonville: 93.9 FM WKTG
Early prediction
Kentucky comes in rested but unproven after a bye. South Carolina is wounded, but desperation often fuels SEC home teams. If UK’s defense forces turnovers, the Cats can steal one. If not, SC has enough firepower to grind out a fourth straight win in a tight series.
Pick: South Carolina 27, Kentucky 14.
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoyes downtime with his family and Premier League soccer.You can find him on X here.Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.